Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Park

Every October, Albuquerque's north side fills with what Wikipedia calls the largest gathering of hot-air balloons in the world. The Balloon Fiesta has run since 1972, founded by local businessman Sid Cutter. The park's launch field covers 47 acres. In 2021, close to 600 balloons participated; the event draws more than 850,000 people in a nine-day run spanning the first two weekends of October. Come for the mass ascensions at dawn, when the Sandia Mountains catch the same light as the envelopes lifting off the field.